Ο Γενικός Γραμματέας του Διεθνούς Ναυτιλιακού Οργανισμού κ. Arsenio Dominguez εξέδωσε ανακοίνωση για την κλιμακούμενη κατάσταση στη Μαύρη Θάλασσα:
“Καθώς η κατάσταση συνεχίζει να κλιμακώνεται στη Μαύρη Θάλασσα, καλώ όλα τα μέρη να απέχουν από τη στόχευση αθώων ναυτικών, λιμενικών και εμπορικών πλοίων. Η ναυτιλία δεν πρέπει να χρησιμοποιείται ως εγγύηση σε γεωπολιτικές καταστάσεις και αναπτύσσεται αυξημένος περιβαλλοντικός κίνδυνος.
Παραμένω έτοιμος να υποστηρίξω κάθε διαπραγματευτική προσπάθεια ώστε να επιτραπεί η συνέχιση του διεθνούς ναυτιλιακού εμπορίου προς όφελος ”
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, has warned of growing dangers to civilian shipping as military tensions escalate in the Black Sea, following a series of recent attacks involving merchant vessels and port infrastructure.
In a statement issued on 16 December amid rising hostilities, Dominguez urged all parties to avoid targeting seafarers, port workers and commercial ships, stressing that civilian maritime trade should not be drawn into geopolitical conflict. His remarks come after multiple incidents in which commercial vessels were damaged or threatened as Ukraine and Russia intensified attacks.
As the situation continues to escalate in the Black Sea, I call on all parties to refrain from targeting innocent seafarers, port workers and merchant ships
… said Dominguez
Over recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have carried out sea-drone attacks against oil tankers linked to Russian exports, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s energy revenues. Meanwhile, Russia has responded with intensified drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea.
The renewed targeting of commercial shipping has heightened fears for the safety of civilian crews working in one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
Shipping should not be used as collateral in geopolitical situations and there is an increased environmental risk developing
… the Sec-Gen noted.
Calling for restraint, Dominguez emphasized that shipping should not be used as leverage in broader political or military disputes. He said he remained ready to support negotiations aimed at ensuring that international maritime trade can continue safely, underscoring the urgency of preventing further harm to civilians and the marine environment as the conflict intensifies.
I remain ready to support any negotiation efforts to allow international shipping trade to continue for the benefit of all
… he concluded.
Nautilus International and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have also denounced attacks on merchant shipping in the Black Sea by the Ukrainian armed forces – warning that civilian seafarers must never be treated as targets and that their safety and rights must be protected at all times.
Regardless of the flag a vessel flies, the cargo it carries, or the politics surrounding a conflict, targeting seafarers or placing them in harm’s way is completely unacceptable
… said Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson.
sourcing Safety4sea
